The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-03-23
LYING IN STATE.
Mr.. Beecher's Body Viewed in
Church by Many Thousands.
A Private Funeral, and Public Ser
vices in Plymouth Church,

The people of Brooklyn thronged on Thurs
day to see the dead face of Henry Ward
Be,cher in greater numbers than ever assem-
bled to see his living form or to listen to his
eloquent words. For more that twelve hours
double column filed past the cof-
fin in which he lay in state in
Plymouth Church, and it was estimated that
fully 10000 persons passed through the
church in that time The only sign OF
mourning in the vicinity of tho church was
national flag ut half-mast. In defer
ence to the wishes OF Mrs. Beecler there was
no black upon either the exterior or the i'll
terror of the church, but within it was album
dainty decorated with flowers and plants.
The universally accepted badges of mourn
ing, however, were displayed everywhere
elss in the city. The Brooklyn City Hall,
Court House, 18th Regiment Armory and
other public buildings were draped in black;
thousands of flags iloated at half mast,
all portraits of Mr.. Beecher with plentiful
gr:nture OF purple and black were displayed
in numerous shop windows.
The private funeral was conducted In the
pouring rain at $3.50 A. NJ. at the home of
Colonel Henry B. Beecher, at Hicks and
Clark streets, where his father spent the later
years of his life when in Brooklyn. At an
early hour people drawn by curiosity
assembled in the vicinity. The 18th
Regiment, 500 strong, under command of Col
onrl Faclincr, marched from the Hanson Place
Armory and formed in line in Hicks street,
to ,scort the body of its late chaplain to the
church. Tho sword-hilts of the officers, the
flags and the band instruments were
dressed in Grape, but no other sign OF
conventional mourning appeared While the
regiment waited, the private funeral services
for the family were conducted in the parlor
where the body lay in the plain but rich cof-
fin Only the relatives and two or three in
tiInate friends were present. Many beautiful
floral tributes were arranged about the
cullin.
DIR. Hall read the Protestant Episcopal ser
viJe and quartet composed Of George Wer-
renr;th, Mrs. Werrenrath, Mrs Lasar-Stud-
we'll and Mr.. Chaplin sang Beyond the
Smiling and the Weeping" and two Others of
Mr.. Beecher's favorite hymns. DR.. Hall
made brief address
At the close of the service farewell look
was taken at tho face III calm repose by tho
widow, children, grandchildren, brothers,
nephews, nieces and friends present. When
the coffin was closed it was borne by the
undertaker's assistants and guarded by
eight sergcantS of the regiment out of the
house and past the ranks Of the soldiery to the
hsarse, which stood in front of the Mansion
House. To the music of muffled drums tho
procession passed down Hicks and Orange
streets TO the church door. Company G the
honor, and behind them were O dozen war
veterans, including General James McLeer,
of tue Union Army, and General G. w. T..
Mccoy, of the Confederate Army.
At the church the regiment presented arms
while the collin was transferred from the
hearse to the ediiice whittier Henry Ward
Beecher, went so often to speak to
gathered thousands. While the body
was borne down the aisle, General
H. C. King played Bccthoven's funeral
march on the organ. The collin was placed
directly in front of the pulpit on low plat
form, the front p2ws having been removed tc
make room for the passing of the people.
The whole interior of the church was beauti.
fled with flowers, growing plants and ever:
green's Tho Beecher family pew was filled
with floral designs. Laurel wreaths were
maiden-hair ferns, ilies-of- -the-vaney and
roses.
A large crowd had gathered ut the church
long before tho doors were opened. In short
time the people were allowed to file into the
church aud view the great preachers body.
From noon to we'll on into the evening
the procession was unbroken. AS one
Of the body guards computed 1t,
sixty persons passed the coffin every minute
and more than 4O,W must have walked by
during the day. The church was closed at
Up. NJ, but the crowd outside was then so
large it was decided to open the doors again,
and they were kept open until 10 P. N. All the
evening n steady stream of people passed
through the church and by the bier. Among
those who viewed the remains were Henry
George, the labor agitator, and Rev. DR.. Nc
Glynn. After 10 =. II. four sentries were
placed on guard in the church and this watch
was relieved every two hours until o'clock
Friday morning.
Friday morning the public funeral services
were conducted in Plymouth Church by Rev.
DR.. Hall, after which the congregation and
then the public were again admitted
to view the remains until ?. N:
Thousands more avaled themselves of
the opportunity for last look at Mr.. Beecher.
Mayor Whitney had requested the citizens Of
Brooklyn, by proclamation, to close their
places of business, and the request was quite
generally observed The Board Of Aldermen,
headed by the Mayor, attended the services
at Plymouth Church in body. Besides the
funeral in Plymouth Church, services were
also held during the day in four other Brook
lyn churches, the First Baptist Church., First
Presbyterian Church, Unitarian Church and
the Sands Street M. E. Church. At P. NJ.
the doors of Plymouth Church were closed
to the public, while the children of the three
Sunday y-schools, in charge OF their superln-
tendents and teachers, viewed the remains.
The church was then reopened to the public
for time, and when closed at night the pub
lie funeral exercises over the great preacher
were over.
The family and few intimate friends
alone accompanied the remains to Greenwood
was placed in the public receiving vault.